There are three films that I watch every year during the holidays and sometimes in between. Holiday Inn and White Christmas since I was a child and Love, Actually more recently. They make me happy and make me cry. For Love, Actually I cry during the credits. They set up a camera at Heathrow Airport and filmed people greeting and embracing each other. I find this so moving. Every kind of person: young, old, male, female, all races. People laughing, crying. It has a great over dub "there is love, actually all around us" in a long speech. Then the screen is split into smaller and smaller segments. I find this wonderful.
There are ten stories told here. They are loosely linked. Some have happy endings, some don't. They are romantic, outrageous, tearfully sad, funny, courageous. They are short stories, I don't believe anything is lacking. They have a beginning, middle and end. Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson and many others give quality performances. This film has a "R" rating for nudity and language. I guess twelve old boys might be titillated. But it is about love, kindness and the choices people make. There is no violence. Much of it is laugh out loud funny. The film takes place during the holidays. The musical score is great. The extras are worth watching.

Ang Lee wants to keep his viewers off balance. The music, peace and love is not front and center of this film. The action mostly takes place at a run down motel. There are two Oscar level performances here. Imelda Staunton plays the heros mother. Her story develops as the film progresses. It explains her behavior. Staunton's acting is perfect. Liev Schreiber plays a man who is a Korean War vet and a cross-dresser. This big, tall guy wears high heels and carries a baseball bat. He is providing security. He has a short speech that I will alway remember. The film gets off to a slow start and the LSD trip is a little long for me. But I still give it a five. Because Ang Lee does not go for the easy, expected story.

The novice cook could produce a great meal, without fear of failure, using this cookbook. There are photos of every step, easily obtained ingredients and the recipes are presented in a logical way. Use a meal prepared from this book to impress a boyfriend or husband. It is also an interesting read, about a young women making a total change in her life. She went from a single city girl, to a ranch wife. There are beautiful photos and illustrations. Ree Drummond started out with a blog and it led to this great cookbook.

Into the Wilderness is a great read. Now is the time to read the series. The sixth and last book is to be published in Jan. These books are so complex and detailed, that if I read for a couple of hours, I feel as though I have been in another time and place. The span of American history that is Daniel Boone's life (1734-1820) is my favorite to read about. These books begin in the 1780's and will end in the 1820's. I always wondered what happened to Cora and Hawkeye from the Last of the Mohicans. This tells the story of their son and his family, extended family, friends and foes. They have adventures from Canada to Scotland to New Orleans with Andrew Jackson.

This is an interesting read. While I am surprised that the Secret Service officers spoke to the author, I am unsure that any new ground is covered. The author had the grace not to say anything about Betty Ford. This gossip is the least important part of the book. The Secret Service is compared to the FBI, to the detriment of the Secret Service. It is clear that our leaders could be protected better. It includes a good history of the Secret Service. The author interviewed high ranking officers, who have unusual ideas for managing the service.